Location: Costa Rica is located approximately ten degrees North of the Equator, on the isthmus of Central America. Costa Rica is bordered on the North by Nicaragua and on the South by Panama. To the East lies the Caribbean Sea; and to the West, the Pacific Ocean.

Size: Costa Rica is a small country, irregular in shape and less than 20,000 square miles in size. At it’s narrowest point, just 75 miles separate the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean. From North to South the country is just 180 miles long.

Biodiversity

Costa Rica is blessed with tremendous biodiversity and the lush radiance of its rich tropical settings.

Climate: The climate in Costa Rica varies depending upon elevation and location.

The coastal plains are warm and tropical. Mountainous regions are much cooler and the Central Plateau has a spring-like climate year-round, with little variation in temperature from month to month (the average daily temperature is 75 F or 25 C).

Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. Low prices for coffee and bananas have hurt the agricultural sector.

Geography: Jagged mountains run through the heart of Costa Rica, extending almost continuously from the northwest to the southeast corners of the country.

There are four major volcanic mountain ranges: Guanacaste, Tilarán, Central and Talamanca. These mountain ranges are separated by low passes and valleys, and rise increasingly higher in the southern part of the country.

These cities lie at altitudes of between 3,000 to 5,000 feet (1,000 to 1,800 meters) above sea level.

Just south of the Central Range is the Central Plateau, or Meseta Central, which is the social and economic soul of Costa Rica, and home to approximately 60% of its population. The four principal cities that compose the Meseta Central region are Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago and the capital city of San José.

The "Meseta Central", is marked by a mix of virgin forests, cultivated lands and urban centers, all set on rolling terrain, bordered by large mountains.

Costa Rica's Flora and Fauna

Flora and Fauna: This tropical country, dotted with mountains and volcanoes, boasts a tremendous variety of biodiversity, from lush rain and cloud forests to mountain pastures and large plantations.

More than 1,000 varieties of orchids can be found here, including La Guaria Morada, the national flower.

Costa Rica’s fabulous fauna includes the jaguar, puma, and agouti, the Atlantic green turtle, three species of monkey, the American crocodile, caiman and the two and three-toed sloth, just to name a few.